Kaiser to enter Nevada through health plan purchase

Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente and Reno, Nev.-based Renown Health have entered a joint venture to launch a new outpatient care delivery system and co-own a health plan in northern Nevada.

The agreement brings Kaiser into the Nevada market and pairs the health system’s integrated care model with Renown’s health plan, Hometown Health, which will be rebranded as Kaiser Permanente Nevada. It will start offering health coverage to employers and northern Nevada residents during the 2026 open enrollment period, according to a Sept. 10 news release. 

Hometown Health has more than 73,000 members across northern Nevada, offering third-party administration services, employer-sponsored plans, ACA coverage and Medicare Advantage. 

Bethany Sexton, CEO of Hometown Health, will remain part of the senior leadership team, Sam Glick, executive vice president of enterprise strategy and business development at Kaiser Permanente, confirmed with Becker’s.

The joint venture will bring a majority interest of Hometown Health under Kaiser. Hometown Health and Senior Care Plus networks, plans or points of contact will not see immediate changes. The transaction is expected to close in early 2026, following regulatory approvals. 

“In addition, 40% of new residents in Nevada have moved from California, many of whom are former [Kaiser Permanente] members,” Brian Erling, MD, president and CEO, Renown Health, said in a statement shared with Becker’s. “This relationship brings together two nonprofit organizations with a shared purpose of providing value-based care to more people … Kaiser Permanente Nevada is a unique opportunity to pair Hometown Health’s strong local reputation with Kaiser Permanente’s value-based care model to deliver what local consumers have asked for: high-quality and affordable care and coverage close to home.”

Kaiser Permanente Nevada will also open a multispecialty ambulatory health system with central and northern Reno locations for members and patients to access ancillary services, diagnostics, multispecialty care and pharmacy services.

Renown will remain an independent, nonprofit health system. It will also continue to accept all existing health plans. 

“This collaboration strengthens our ability to keep care local, while bringing the scale, expertise and innovation of a national leader,” Dr. Erling said. “Together, we are ensuring that individuals, families and employers across the state have more choices and better coverage.”

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